A Puerto Rican woman visiting SeaWorld in Orlando on Monday, who left her disabled child unattended for more than one hour, has been arrested, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies said.
Rosa Marie Pou, 44, from Puerto Rico, was arrested and charged with neglect of a disabled child and resisting an officer without violence. Bond was set at $1,250.
Investigators were told by a Security Officer at Sea World that a disabled child had been left unattended for close to 90 minutes and had been seen walking into the restricted areas of the rides. A Sea World employee confirmed that a roller ride had to be stopped several times as the child was found walking in the unsafe restricted area. Other witnesses reported that at one point the child was seen playing, unattended in a sand box area of the playground.
A SeaWorld attendant eventually transported the child to guest services. Investigators were informed that the child appeared to have a cough and chest congestion and a paramedic was called to examine and medically clear the child for release.
Rosa Marie Pou, the child’s mother, eventually showed up, refusing to cooperate with investigators and answer questions. She claimed that her daughter, Geney Rodriguez, was left in charge of supervising the disabled child. Pou also told investigators no one had a right to medically examine her child, given that he was 21 years. Pou, who continued to resist deputies and tried to exit the room, was placed under arrest. Deputies forced her to the ground during the arrest.
Geney Rodriguez told detectives that she had left the disabled child in the Happy Harbor play area to go on a park ride because the child did not want to come with her.
Pou was charged with neglect of a disabled child and resisting an officer without violence. She was booked into the Orange County Jail on a $1,250 bond.
